ANAHEIM, Calif. – Frederik Andersen stopped all 30 shots he faced for his first post-season shutout as the Anaheim Ducks blanked the Calgary Flames 3-0 on Sunday to take Game 2 of their second-round series.
Anaheim now leads the best-of-seven matchup 2-0. The series shifts to Calgary for Game 3 on Tuesday and Game 4 Friday.
“Now we’re going home. In front of our fans we know how crazy it is at the Scotiabank Saddledome,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “It’s going to be great. Let’s try and win one, let’s try and win the first one and see where we’re at.
“I’ve been down lots of times by two games, we found ways to come back so here’s the same challenge.”
Matt Beleskey, Hampus Lindholm and Nate Thomspon scored for the Ducks – spoiling a strong performance by goalie Karri Ramo, who got the nod in net over Jonas Hiller.
Ramo made 31 saves starting in place of Hiller, who was pulled early in the second period of Game 1.
“We battled really hard but we lost it,” said Ramo. “Now we are in a bit of a hole, but we go home, we feel really good playing at home. We win two games and we’re right back in it.”
The Flames trailed 1-0 at the end of the first period, and it would have been worse if not for Ramo’s efforts. He made a sprawling save to deny Ryan Getzlaf and a glove stop off Kyle Palmieri’s shot in the opening five minutes, while Ryan Kesler hit the crossbar.
Beleskey finally broke through at 7:27 off the first on an odd-man rush started by Jakob Silfverberg. Kesler raced ahead and set up Beleskey to beat Ramo over his left glove hand.
The Ducks took 20 shots in the first to the Flames’ nine, and some of their best scoring chances were not included in that disparity – notably Lindholm’s failure to collect a Getzlaf pass that went tantalizingly through the crease.
Despite delivering their best period to date in the series, the Flames could not come up with the equalizer in the second. A Ducks turnover gave Mason Raymond the puck at point-blank range, but Andersen swallowed up his poor shot. Joe Colborne also had a good look off Francois Beauchemin’s poor attempt at a clearance and Andersen responded with the glove save.
After finally establishing an effective forecheck to start the third period, the Flames’ hopes were extinguished when Lindholm scored with 8:45 remaining.
Corey Perry had two assists, including the key pass on Lindholm’s goal, and now leads the league with 13 points this post-season.
Hartley made several lineup changes before the puck dropped. Besides the previously-announced decision to start Ramo in goal, Sam Bennett replaced Johnny Gaudreau on the top line alongside Sean Monahan and Jiri Hudler. Micheal Ferland, who did not return after exiting Game 1 in the first period, was scratched after going through warmups, and David Wolf made his post-season debut.
Hartley also shortened his bench, letting his top three defensemen all play more than 26 minutes.
Comments